Finance is one of Chicago’s most legacy-rich industries and the one that’s the most in flux. The institutions that defined global markets were born here, and they still set the pace for trading, risk, and capital today. But the future isn’t just about defending what was built. It’s about imagining what comes next.
On Thursday November 6, TechNexus Venture Collaborative is bringing the financial-tech community together for Reinventing Industry: FinTech & Finance sponsored by NinjaTrader. This breakfast networking event and panel discussion, hosted at TeamWorking by TechNexus, will feature a conversation with leaders who are shaping the future of Chicago’s fintech ecosystem.
Leaders from fast-growing startups, fintech-focused VC firms, innovative futures trading software, and established financial giants will describe the future of fintech as they see it. Register here to secure your spot at the event.
Meet the panelists:
Joe Sabatello, Ninja Trader
Joe Sabatello is the Senior Director of Software Engineering at NinjaTrader, which was acquired earlier this year by Kraken for $1.5 billion. Sabatello leads teams delivering real-time trading, payments/treasury, and back-office integrations for the retail futures market. He began his career at Chicago HFT firm WH Trading, then moved to TransAct Futures in 2015 to lead engineering for retail futures trading. After NinjaTrader acquired TransAct in 2021, Joe shifted into engineering leadership and continues to scale the platform following NinjaTrader’s 2025 acquisition by Kraken. Joseph holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Purdue University (2010).
Mark Daly, zerohash
Mark Daly is the Chief Business Officer of zerohash. Daly is a founding team member and the Chief Business Officer at zerohash, the trusted infrastructure redefining how value moves onchain. Zerohash, which in September raised $104 million at a $1 billion valuation, powers digital asset and stablecoin products for companies including Stripe, Interactive Brokers, Franklin Templeton, and Worldpay, providing the foundational rails for the next generation of global finance. Mark leads the company’s commercial strategy, ecosystem partnerships and platform growth, driving zerohash’s vision to make onchain finance accessible, compliant and universal.
Kelsey Landau, Alloy Labs
Kelsey Landau is an investor at Alloy Labs. As a Principal at the firm, Landau manages the active portfolio of investments in fintech and related companies for the Alloy Alchemist Fund. She also tracks and monitors relevant fintech companies for potential investment and partnership opportunities for Alloy Labs members through the Concept Lab. Before joining Alloy Labs, she was a Public Finance Investment Banking Associate at Citi. Kelsey holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BSBA from the University of Florida.
Seerat Kaler, BMO Financial Group
Seerat Kaler is the Manager of Digital Innovation Fund and Emerging Partnerships at BMO Financial Group. Kaler leads Wealth Management-focused partnerships. Previously at BCG, she advised banks across 55+ markets on digital strategy, mobile transformation, omnichannel design, and generative AI adoption. Her global work spanned Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe, and included authoring thought leadership on how traditional banks can compete with digital challengers. She is currently pursuing her MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, concentrating in Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship. Passionate about advancing women in finance, Seerat co-founded the DePaul Females in Finance Initiative and continues to serve as an Advisory Board Member. She also serves as the youngest and only female Board Member of the Sikh Religious Society in Palatine, Illinois, supporting a community of over 4,000 members.
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Reinventing Industry is a quarterly breakfast series from TechNexus Venture Collaborative that brings together the founders, funders, and operators reimagining how legacy industries evolve — and proves why Chicago is where the future gets built.
TechNexus is a Venture Collaborative, a dynamic investment and innovation platform that builds and scales high-growth businesses by bridging corporate capital, startup ecosystems, and industry transformation. Through corporate joint ventures, venture capital funds, and hands-on venture building, we unlock new markets, accelerate growth, and create lasting value for corporations, investors, and founders alike.